Shloka 17
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Remorse and Vyāsa’s Teaching on Impermanence (Śoka-nivāraṇa)
कुण्जरं चान्तरं कृत्वा मिथ्योपचरितं मया । सुभृशं राज्यलुब्धेन पापेन गुरुघातिना,परंतु राज्यके लोभमें अत्यन्त फँसे हुए मुझ पापी गुरु-हत्यारेने मरे हुए हाथीकी आड़ लेकर उनसे झूठ बोल दिया और उनके साथ धोखा किया
kuñjaraṃ cāntaraṃ kṛtvā mithyopacaritaṃ mayā | subhṛśaṃ rājyalubdhena pāpena gurughātinā ||
اتّخذتُ خبر الفيل ستارًا، وتصرفتُ بالباطل. وقد أعمتني شهوة الملك الشديدة، فكنتُ—أنا الآثم، قاتلُ معلّمي—قد خدعته حين نطقتُ بالكذب تحت ظلّ خبر موت الفيل.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when pursued for political victory, deceit—especially a lie that implicates one’s duty to a revered teacher—creates grave moral fault. The verse frames untruth and manipulation as a breach of dharma that leaves lasting guilt.
Yudhiṣṭhira confesses that he used the death of an elephant as a pretext to utter a misleading statement, thereby deceiving his guru (teacher) in the war context. He condemns himself as kingdom-greedy and sinful for this act.